The Duke's Slave

By Bella Wolfe

Raised by her evil grandmother, Emmeline has dreamed of escaping ever since she was only a child. For years, she saved all the money she could just to find out her grandmother Esther Somerset had given all of it away.
After a terrible fight, her grandmother died and Emmeline is all alone in the world, with little more than what she’s wearing. Trying to clear her mind, she went into the lake with her kayak but gets trapped by a powerful storm of wind and rain and thunder. All of a sudden, she is pulled into a maelstrom then under the water.
When she resurfaces, she finds herself in 1840 Victorian England confronted by a sobbing child promising to be good.
A couple of days later, she meets the Duke of Rutland, who makes her an indecent proposal. The attraction between them is unmistakable, but she’s not willing to become his slave, at least not until he changes his proposal into one impossible to refuse.
Step by step he introduces her into his dark world of pleasure and pain, bliss and submission and she falls into it as if she had been born to be his entirely.
But she knows he’ll soon get tired of her, and then, what will happen to her and the children? How will she go on with her life when she is a fallen woman from the 21st century with no prospects and without the man she has grown to love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thesios
• Release date: Jun 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463509586

Book preview

The Duke's

Slave

Bella Wolfe

GTQ LLC

Orlando, Florida

Copyright © 2018 by Bella Wolfe

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

GTQ LLC

PO Box 540375

Orlando, FL 32854

www.thesios.com

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

The Duke’s Slave/Bella Wolfe -- 2st ed.

ISBN

CHAPTER ONE

Emmeline tried to guide her kayak to the closest shore, but the powerful, wind-driven waves kept washing her further and further away. Tucking her long auburn hair inside her t-shirt to keep it away from her face, she continued paddling with all her strength.

She hadn’t foreseen the storm that was almost on top of her when she had decided to go kayaking.

It had been a hellish week, with her grandmother’s passing, her funeral and the events that had preceded her death, but the letter she received that morning had been the final blow.

She had always known just how much the old woman hated her presence in her house, but she had never imagined she would go so far to turn her life into a living hell.

Emmeline’s mother became pregnant with her when she was twenty years old. She was away from home studying to become an executive secretary and had fallen for her married boss. When he found out she was pregnant, he had fired her and paid her enough money for her to disappear. She had been forced to come back home, and her mother, Esther, only received her because she was a good Christian and her duty was to forgive the sinners. Or so she kept saying, but the truth, hidden behind closed doors, was that she was a bitter woman who hated her daughter for putting her in such a position. She was mortified and hated that the church ladies knew of her daughter’s sin - but she hated her granddaughter even more because she was the evidence of that sin.

Her mother had escaped the woman’s yoke as soon as Emmeline was born. She had packed her bags and disappeared, never to be heard from again. Emmeline had no idea if she was still alive or not and frankly at this time of her life, she couldn’t say she cared.

For eighteen years she had suffered from every humiliation, every insult, every punishment her grandmother had put her through, while she counted the days until she was old enough to walk away. She had worked like a slave for the people of the town, saving as much money as she could for the moment when she could leave, only to find out Mrs. Esther Somerset had destroyed all of her dreams.

The night before her eighteenth birthday, Esther had put a receipt in front of her, at dinner time. They were both sitting at the table when she did it.

Suspicious, she had picked the paper and read it. It was the receipt for a donation to her grandmother’s church. The amount donated was exactly the same as what she had saved up until that day.

With a terrible feeling in her stomach, she had faced her grandmother. What’s the meaning of this? she asked, keeping a calm tone, as much as she could.

I thought you should have the receipt for the money you’ve donated to the church. It’s the fair thing to do, don’t you think? the woman said, in her usual cold tone.

Trembling, Emmeline jumped up and ran to her bedroom, to the place where she had been hiding her money, a loose panel of wood on the floor of her closet. The small metal box was empty.

She let out a cry of disbelief and rage.

There’s no need for the neighbors to know the kind of vulgar woman you are, don’t you think? Esther said, from the doorway.

She got up and faced the older woman, waving the box. Where’s my money? she asked, through gritted teeth.

You know exactly where it is, so why ask? she said, in a scornful tone.

You had no right to touch my money… she yelled at her, but Esther interrupted her.

Nothing inside the walls of my house is yours. Especially not the money you have been keeping from me, that I’m sure you’ve been stealing from my purse and God knows from whom else, she said in a cold tone. So I put it to good use and gave it to the church. I’m sure the Reverend will find a more suitable use for it.

I hate you, Emmeline yelled. If you think this will stop me from leaving this godforsaken place, you don’t know me at all!

The older woman lunged across the room and struck her in the face with a powerful slap that threw her to the floor. Emmeline felt the pain radiating across her cheek and looked up to face her ice-cold grandmother.

I’ve invested far too much money in you for you to simply walk out on me, Esther threatened her. Now that you can pay me back, you’re not going anywhere. Don’t even try, or you’ll find out exactly what I’m capable of. With those ominous words, she left the room, locking the door behind her.

It wasn’t the first time she had been locked up in her room, but Emmeline promised herself it would be the last one. She was leaving Ponemah as soon as she could, even if she had to ask for a ride from the first car that passed her on her way.

She rubbed her cheek and wiped the tears of frustration away from her eyes. This time, nothing would stop her from getting what she had been dreaming about for so long: her freedom.

Esther kept her locked up in her room for two days. It wasn’t the first time she did that to her, so she had learned to keep water and some food hidden so she wouldn’t starve to death. Fortunately, her room had her own bathroom or things would be a bit more complicated.

Esther showed up in Emmeline’s room the day after her birthday, with a victorious smile on her face. I’m sure you have learned your lesson by now, haven’t you? she asked, flattening a nonexistent wrinkle on her black skirt.

She always dressed in black, with her gray hair stretched in a tight bun on her nape, because according to her, it was the proper way for a widow to dress.

I have no interest in learning any of your lessons, said Emmeline, walking towards the door. She knew this was her chance to escape and she had to take it.

The Reverend is here to thank you personally for your generous donation, said Esther, grabbing her by the arm and tightening her grip.

You have to be kidding me, she ranted.

Her grandmother slapped her in the face again. You’ll walk with me downstairs, and you’ll say some kind words to the Reverend, or I’ll make you regret the day you were born, the woman threatened in an ice-cold tone of voice.

You have been doing that all my life, Emmeline replied. She couldn’t stop her now.

You haven’t seen anything yet, girl, she snarled, as she dragged her out of the room.

Let me go, or I’ll tell the Reverend exactly how that money reached his church, Emmeline said, trying to free herself from her grip.

You wouldn’t dare, said her grandmother with arrogance.

But this time Esther was going to see what she was able to do.

Here she is Reverend, Esther said, pushing Emmeline to where the man was waiting nervously in the parlor.

Ah, Emmeline, how are you? the minister said, in a cautious tone.

She’s fine, as you can see, Esther said, preventing her from answering.

But the man wanted to hear the answer from the girl’s lips, so other than a quick glance at the older woman, he kept his eyes on the girl.

I’m fine, Reverend, as you can see, she said sarcastically while rubbing her bruised arm. In fact, she had never been better. Freedom waited for her.

Your grandmother brought me yesterday a bank deposit she says you gave in benefit of our church and I wanted to say thank you to you personally, the man explained, still looking straight at Emmeline.

We both know, Reverend, that I didn’t make that deposit, she said, in a cold tone.

Of course not, you asked me to do it for you, Esther interrupted, gritting her teeth.

I was saving that money to finally leave this place, and you know that Reverend since I had told you about it several times, Emmeline pointed out to the man standing in front of her. After all, he had been one of the people hiring her to do chores and errands.

She wasn’t playing Esther’s games anymore.

The minister paled, and Esther pulled her again by the arm. How can you lie that way? Haven’t I been able to teach you better? she yelled at her.

You stole that money from me, Emmeline yelled back. But this was the last opportunity you’ll ever have to ruin my life. I’m free now, and even if I have to beg on the streets to survive, I’m leaving you alone, and I’m leaving this town, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me. It’s over, grandmother. You’ll never command me again, she added, a bit calmer.

You won’t leave me… not after all I’ve done for you… the older woman ranted, her face red as a beet, as she jostled Emmeline’s arm.

You can’t stop me. Not anymore, She tugged her arm with all her strength, managing to free herself from the old woman and running out of the room.

She had reached the front door when she heard a loud thud right before the Reverend's shout. Emmeline… call 911.

CHAPTER TWO

Esther Somerset was dead. A catastrophic stroke killed her in just a couple of seconds. At the age of seventy-eight, she looked younger than she was and her death surprised many people in the small town, but other than a few messages of condolence, no one seemed to feel sorry for her passing. She had had no real friends in the small community of Ponemah.

Alone for the first time in her life, Emmeline had felt a bit lost at first, until she realized she didn’t have to leave right away. There was no rush now that she didn’t have to put up with Esther. But that was before she had received a letter that last morning.

It had been sent by a lawyer’s firm, letting her know she must leave the house before the end of the month since her grandmother had donated the house with all of its contents to the town’s church.

At first, she couldn’t believe what she was reading, but then it dawned on her that it was just the kind of thing Esther would do.

Even from the grave, she had the power to ruin Emmeline’s plans!

Furious, she had picked up her kayak and headed to the lake. Nothing calmed her more than paddling the gentle waters of Red Lake. It had always been her escape and that day, it would be exactly what she needed.

Of course, that had been before the storm’s arrival. Now, she was struggling to survive, trying to reach the nearest shore, but the waves and the powerful gusts of wind kept pulling her away. Thick raindrops started falling, and she growled out loud her frustration.

She was in deep trouble, and no one knew where she was. How the hell was she going to get out of this one?

A deafening roar of thunder startled her, and to her surprise, a huge maelstrom formed right in front of her pulling her kayak relentlessly towards it.

Terrified, she paddled away from it with all her strength, but in vain. In just seconds, she was being pulled by the swirl and swallowed by it.

She was pulled away from the kayak, and even the paddle was ripped off from her hands, hitting her face as it flew away from her, while she was pulled down the swirling vortex.

She took a deep breath just before a massive wave crashed over her pushing her deeper into the cold waters of the lake. She tried to swim back to the surface, but a strange force kept pulling her down. With her lungs burning, she made one last effort to come up to the surface, but it was impossible.

Surrendering, she closed her eyes for a moment, relaxing her body and accepting her destiny. Right then, when she thought all was lost, she was pushed out of the water.

Coughing, she came out to the surface, disoriented and with no idea where she was.

It was night time, but the silvery light of a full moon allowed her to see the shore that was now right in front of her. She swam the last few yards towards it and dragged herself out of the water still coughing. Feeling completely exhausted, she simply stayed there, lying in the mud, trying to catch her breath.

Emmeline… Emmeline… I thought you had died… a little girl’s shaky voice sounded next to her, and she opened her eyes, trying to find the voice’s owner.

I’m alright, she assured the girl, though her voice didn’t sound familiar.

Why did you jump? You know you cannot swim, the little girl asked, kneeling next to her and allowing Emmeline to finally see her.

What are you talking about? Of course, I can swim, she said, sitting down and taking her hair away from her face.

The girl threw herself into Emmeline’s arms sobbing. I thought you had died… that you had left us… all alone… she mumbled through her sobs, tightening her embrace around Emmeline.

Sweetie, I think you have the wrong Emmeline, she said, with a frown.

Please, Emmeline, I swear I’ll behave, we’ll all behave, The little one sobbed louder, with so much despair Emmeline’s frown deepened. Something was very wrong here, but she had no idea what, and it was obvious the girl was confused.

You know what? Let’s take you home. It’s too late for you to be out here. She decided. Perhaps her parents would be able to explain what the hell was going on and who the hell was the Emmeline the girl was talking about.

Yes… let’s go home, The girl finally pulled away from her, smiling as she wiped the tears from her lovely face.

Emmeline got up and helped the girl up as well, shuddering as the cold breeze kissed her body. They were both covered in mud from the lakeshore, something that puzzled Emmeline. She didn’t remember any of the lake’s shores to be this muddy, but perhaps she had been thrown into some bay she had never visited.

The little girl guided her across a bridge and into a small town. Emmeline was sure she had never seen this place, but she walked along the cobbled road with the girl until they reached a small house just outside the village. The girl opened the door and entered.

Emmeline stopped at the door, not sure what to do. The girl turned around and motioned her to come in.

Katherine, what happened to your dress? What were you doing out all alone? another girl, this one a bit older, was asking the younger one, but she stopped immediately when she saw Emmeline standing at the door. What happened? Why are you wearing those strange clothes? the older girl asked her, with a deep frown.

Emmeline looked at her soaked t-shirt and jeans and felt ill at ease. I believe you’re mistaking me for someone else, she said, puzzled with the girl's attitude and with everything around them, for that matter, including the way the girls were dressed.

I saw her jump off the bridge over the river, the little girl said, sobbing.

Startled, the other one looked at Emmeline with so much hurt in her eyes, she felt sad, though she had done nothing wrong.

You can’t swim, the girl muttered.

Yes, I can. I’m here, am I not? she replied, not sure what was going on, but feeling impelled to defend the other Emmeline, whoever she was.

Then why did you jump off the bridge? the older girl asked her, with a challenging tone in her voice and a lot of hurt.

I slipped. And I must have hit my head on something because nothing makes sense to me right now, she said, hoping to get more information from the girls on her whereabouts.

The expression on the other girl’s face changed completely. Are you alright? You must be freezing with those wet clothes. She guided her into the house and closed the door behind them.

A bit, yes… but I need to know where I am, she said.

You’re home. The girl replied, frowning.

Where is home? Emmeline insisted, starting to get a horrible feeling about the whole thing.

We live in Redmile, at Belvoir Valley. Katherine, the little one, replied. Even I know that, she said, teasing Emmeline.

I’m guessing by your accent that we’re in England, right? Emmeline asked, starting to feel an excruciating headache. What the hell was going on?

Of course. The older girl confirmed. How is it possible you don’t remember these things? she asked, suspicious, furrowing her brows.

I guess it was the fall… Emmeline mumbled, not sure what she could tell them. What year is this?

This question seemed to worry the girls even more.

1840.

The number swirled in her mind, and she almost passed out. What had happened? How

Reviews for The Duke's Slave

[Ioana · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Is one of the most beautiful books i read until now